Watergate: Blueprint for a Scandal Season 1 Episode 1 The Break-In
- TV14
- June 5, 2022
- 42 min
-
(15)
The Break-In is the first episode of the season one of the show Watergate: Blueprint for a Scandal. The episode begins with a news report detailing the events of June 17, 1972, when a group of burglars was caught breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters located inside the Watergate building complex. The reporter explains how this event sparked one of the most significant political scandals in the history of the United States.
The episode then delves into the details of the break-in itself, providing a timeline of events and interviews with various people who were involved. Viewers are introduced to the five men who were found inside the DNC headquarters and learn about their connections to President Nixon's re-election campaign.
Through interviews and footage, the episode reveals the methods used by the burglars to gain access to the building and how they went about installing bugging devices. It also covers the discovery of the break-in by security guard Frank Wills and the subsequent involvement of the Metropolitan Police Department.
The episode then moves on to the aftermath of the break-in, highlighting how the news of the burglary quickly spread and how the Nixon administration reacted. The episode explores how the initial news reports were played down by the White House, with Press Secretary Ron Ziegler labeling them as "a third-rate burglary attempt."
The episode then shows how the Watergate scandal slowly began to unravel, thanks in large part to the persistence of two journalists, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein of The Washington Post. Through their reporting, they were able to connect the break-in to the Nixon administration and expose the extent of the corruption and illegal activities that were taking place within the White House.
Overall, The Break-In provides a detailed and engaging account of one of the most significant political scandals of the 20th century. The episode sets the stage for the rest of the season, and viewers are left eager to learn more about the events that followed and the people involved.
